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Feb 135,. 11%33 J, N LAN l w COVER FEEDING AND FOLDING MECHANISM FOR BOOKING MACHINES Filed Sept. 19, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet l J. R NQLAN Feb, 15 19386 COVER FEEDING AND FOLDING MECHANISM FOR BOOKING MACHINES Fil ed Sept. 19, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l lH WHHI WMI I I ffeb 3. 5, EQBQO J. NQLAN mfi fiw COVER FEEDING AND FOLDING MECHANISM FOR BOOKING MACHINES Filed Siept. 19, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 15, 3938.

J. R NOLAN 2,310&318

COVER FEEDING AND FOLDING MECHANISM FOR BOOKING MACHINES Filed Sept.

19, 1936 7 Sheets Sheet 4 5 1 I Jl R. NOLAN 1 8 I COVER FEEDING .AND FOLDING MECHANISM FOR BOOKING MACHINES Filed Sept. 19,- 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 15, 1938. J R NOLAN I 2,108,318 v COVER FEEDING AND FOLDING MECHANISM FOR BOOKiNG MACHINES Filbd Sept. 19, 1956 7 sheetssheet s v "F H I Q I w 3 Fk'; R9?" .r fi v H V 3g I i "T Q L Feb. 15, 1938. J NOLAN 2,l@8,318

COVER FEEDING AND FOLDING MECHANISM FOR BOOKING MACHINES Filed Sept. 19, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7- Patented Feb. 15, 1938 Zdiidfild PA'TT GENE (JOVEB FEEDENG AND FOLDING MECHA- NISM FOR BOGKXNG MACHINES dohn it. Nolan, Larclnnont, N. Y., assignor to The Diamond Match Company, Wiirnington, DelL, a corporation of Delaware Application September 19, 1936, Serial No. 101,559

12 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for folding flexible cover strips and introducing them in the carriers of booking machines, more particularly match booking machines such, for example, as disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,042,472, dated October 29, 1912.

The carrier of the machine forming the subject-matter of said patent consists of an endless chain of pocketed links (each including a resilient clamping member) constructed and arranged for intermittent movement along an extended path in which is included mechanism whereby flat cover strips for match books are folded at one end and bodily inserted in the adjacent links in such manner that the folds project rearwardly of, and the bodies of the strips are clamped in the.links.

An object of my invention is to accomplish by simplified mechanism the rapid and accurate folding of the cover strips and their insertion in the links of the carrier without impairing the folded edges of the covers or the printing or other impressions on the outer surfaces of the strips.

With this object mainly in view my invention comprises novel features of construction and combinations of parts which in a preferred embodiment of my invention will be hereinafter described; the scope of the invention being expressed in the appended claims.

in the annexed drawings- Figure l is a transverse vertical section of a portion of a typical match booking machine equipped with cover feeding and folding mechanism embodying the principle of my invention; the parts being shown with the oscillatory folder element raised and the cover feeder in forward or cover-strip receiving position. 1

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section in a plane through a cover-strip hopper, as on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, but showing the folder element in down position and the feeder in rearward or delivering position. I

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, in a plane through the cover-strip hopper, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section, as on the line ll of Fig. 2.

, Fig. 5 is a similar section, but showing the folder element raised and the feeder in forward or strip receiving position.

Fig. 6 is a similar View, but showing the folder down.

Fig. '7 is a sectional detail showing the folder down and the feeder as advancing the folded cover strip thereover.

Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of the cover feeding and folding mechanism, and adjuncts.

Fig. 9 is a sectional perspective view of cover strip holding devices which co-operate with the feeding and folding mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, i5 designates a portion of the supporting frame including the table it of a match booking machine; I! designates a power driven cam shaft which extends longitudinally of the frame and beneath the table, and i8 designates a portion of an endless carrier constituting a form of cover receiving element which is intermittently actuated by and from the cam shaft through suitable gearing in any usual or approved manner.

The carrier selected for illustration comprises an endless chain of clamping links adapted to travel in a guide trough I!) which is suitably formed on or supported at the rear of the table.

Each link comprises a base 28 with parallel side walls 2| having inwardly overhanging flanges 22 and having also suitably-disposed ears 23 by means of which the adjoining links are hingedly connected by pins. Within each link is arranged in the space between the side walls 2! a spring clamping leaf 26 having at its forward end an angular lip which is secured to the adjacent end of the base 20. The leaf is inclined upwardly and rearwardly so that its free upper end yieldingly co-acts with the opposing under surfaces of the respective flanges of the link, such end being slightly curved downwardly, as at 26, in order to present a smooth bearing surface to an end-folded flexible cover, as it is being forced intoand through the link.

The form of mechanism herein illustrated as an embodiment of my invention is designed to act upon successive pairs of cover strips C in a manner to fold the strips of each pair simultaneously and insert them in two adjoining links of the carrier, which mechanism is as follows:

Fixed on the cover receiving end of the table, transversely thereof and forwardly of the trough it, are a pair of spaced parallel rails Zl upon which are fastened gibs 28 for the support and guidance of a slide 29, which is reciprocated horizontally in timed relation to the intermittent travel of the carrier. This slide carriesa rear- Wardly extending bifurcated plate 36, constituting a cover folder, the free or acting ends of the legs of which are moved through and from two adjoining links by the actuation of the slide during each succeeding dwell of the carrier.

In the present instance the means for reciprobeen pre-frictioned.

eating the slide 29 includes a bell-crank 3| fulcrumed on a fixed shaft 32 supported by a suitably-disposed bracket on the main frame. One of the crank arms is hingedly connected by means of a link 33 to a lug 34 which depends from the slide 29 through a slot 35 in the table, and the other arm is provided with a roll 36 which is operatively fitted in the race of a face cam 31 fast on the shaft IT. The contour of the cam race is such that during one-half rotation of the cam the slide is reciprocated toward and from the carrier, and in the other half rotation of the cam the slide is at rest at the limit of its forward or outer stroke. Any other suitable mechanism for reciprocating the slide may be employed.

Journaled in bearings 38 in the rails 21 adjacent the forward wall of the trough I9 is a rockshaft 39 to which are secured a pair of spaced strip flexing members 40, constituting folders, which are simultaneously oscillated in vertical paths by actuation of the rock-shaft as will presently appear. The body of each member 40 has a flat upper surface 4| terminating in a depending forward lip 42 having a convex forward surface 43 which is rounded along its upper edge, as at 44. The surface 4! of the body when the member is at the limit of its down stroke and the slide 29 is at the limit of its forward stroke, lies in a horizontal plane slightly below that of the lower surface of the slide plate 3%, the lip then being in close relation to and below the acting end of the plate. Thus the bifurcated portion of the slide plate is freely movable toward and from the carrier and in spaced relation to the upper flat (See surfaces of the respective members 40. Figs. 4 and 6).

When the slide is in its forward position the members 48 are swung upward, thus raising the respective lips 42 above and beyond the rearward or acting end of the slide plate 30 as seen in Fig. 5. At this juncture the slide is at rest while the carrier is being impelled a distance of two links, and at the same time a cover strip is imposed flatwise on each leg of the slide plate with the rearward end of the strip projecting rearwardly of the adjacent end of the plate a determined extent for the end fold to be produced, as indicated by the dotted lines d in Figs. 5 and 6. Thereupon the members 48 are swung downward so that the descending lips 42 impinge against the opposing projecting ends of the cover strips and press them downwardly and against the opposing end of the slide, the curved forward faces of which lips then serve as temporary backers for the resulting flaps. (See Fig. 6.) This done, and the carrier being at rest, the slide is moved rearwardly, thus impelling the cover strips in a straight path directly over the horizontally-disposed upper surfaces 4! of the respective members 40 and toward the carrier. In this rearward stroke of the slide the depending cover flaps in their initial contact with the opposing lips :32 of the members 40 and the following passage of the flaps to and upon the horizontal surfaces 6| of such members 40 are folded against and under the acting end of the slide plate 39 which end is smoothly rounded, as at 45. In such passage the folds by their inherent elasticity decline forwardly and downwardly, thus presenting only their lower or free edges to the opposing bearing and guiding surfaces 4! of the members 46 and thereby avoiding the rubbing on such surfaces of the usual friction material on the outer faces of the folds if the cover strips have (See Fig. 7.) In the continued rearward movement of the slide the folded ends of the cover strips as they leave the bearing and guiding surface-s 4| are forced by the slide plate 30 into and through the opposing links of the carrier, whereupon the lower edges of the folds snap downward and engage a longitudinal shoulder 46 on the rear wall of the trough. In the next succeeding forward stroke of the slide this shoulder serves as an efficient stop and stripper for the covers. A backer member 41 for the end folds of the cover is suitably arranged on the rear wall of the trough.

In order to obviate any liability of the displacement of the cover strips upon the slide plate 30 during the downward bending of the rearwardly projecting ends of the strips by the lips 42 of the members 40, (thus ensuring smooth and uniform contact of the strip material with the opposing rounded end of the slide), suitably-disposed margin holding devices for the strips are provided, which devices in the form illustrated include spaced horizontally reciprocative toes 48 supported by oppositely-movable spring-retracted shifter bars 49 which are intermittently influenced by a pair of vertically-reciprocating cam bars 490 in such manner as to be moved over and from the respective lateral edges of the cover strips at the free end of the slide when such slide is in its forward or retracted position and the cover strips are seated thereon, as will be hereinafter described.

In order also to obviate any liability of displacement of 'the bodies of the cover strips upon the slide plate during the passage of the slide plate and strips to the carrier, spaced parallel guard fingers 50 are arranged to overhang the longitudinal edges of the respective strips, the sides of the members 40 being offset, as at 5|, so as to clear the fingers during the oscillation of the folder members. These fingers 50, which are conveniently secured at their forward ends to the base of a suitably located supply hopper 52 for the cover strips, simply overlie the adjacent longitudinal edges of the respective cover strips and therefore printing or other impressions on the outer surfaces of the strips are not subjected to abrasion during the rearward travel of the strips with the slide.

The strip supply hopper 52, which is conveniently supported on the respective gibs 28,

embodies two parallel magazines which overhang the paths of the respective legs of the slide plate 30 when the slide is in its forward position. Each of the magazines is of proper size to contain a stack of cover strips whereof the lowermost strip is supported at its longitudinal edges on protuberances on the inner walls of the hopper magazine at a level above the path of the slide plate, which protuberances in the present instance are provided by the conic points of screws 53 threaded in the walls of the magazines. The lower ends of the front walls of the respective magazines have suitable openings 54 therein for the free passage of the slide plate and the respective folders 40.

Mechanism isprovided whereby the lowermost cover strips are separated from the respective stacks when the slide 29 is at the limit of its forward stroke, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, and whereby the separated strips are at once deposited upon the slide plate with their rearward ends projecting beyond the legs of the slide plate and in the pathof the lips 42 of the respective folders 40 previously described. Such mechanism in the form illustrated includes a vertically reciprocative suction head having two pairs of spaced nozzles 55 which are movable t0 and below the median portions of the bottom surfaces of the lowermost cover strips of the respective stacks when the slide is at the lower or forward limit of its stroke. As herein shown the suction head comprises a base 56 which is slidably mounted in depending guide members 51 fixed to the table and which base has formed therein a common duct 58 that communicates with up-standing tubes 59 terminating in the nozzles 55. These tubes are slidable in tubular guides 60 mounted in the table I6. The duct' 58 has an outlet 6! which is flexibly connected, as by a hose 62, to a suitable air exhaust line.

The base 56 is pivotally connected by means of a link 63 to a horizontal lever 84 which is fulcrumed on a shaft 65 supported by the main frame. This lever bears a roll 6b which rests on the periphery of the cam 31 and is resiliently held in down position by compression springs 61 encircling the respective tubes 59 of the suction head. Located on the periphery of the cam in operative relation to the cam race is a projection 68 which is so disposed that when the slide 28 is at rest at the limit of its forward or outer stroke, the projection passes under and escapes the roll, such projection in conjunction with the springs thus effecting the requisite vertical reciprocation of the base 56 and its appurtenances. The legs'of the slide plate 30 have appropriate openings 69 for the free passage of the reciprocating suction tubes and their nozzles.

The vertically reciprocating base 56 of the suction head affords simple and efficient actuating means for the rock-shaft 39 hereinbefore referred to which carries the oscillating folding members M3. To this end the base is pivotally connected by means of a link 10 with a forwardly extending arm i! fast on the mid-portion of the rock-shaft 39. During the up stroke of the base 56 the rock-shaft is partially turned to swing upward the horizontally disposed folding members M), and during the down stroke of the base the rock-shaft is reversely moved to return the members 40 to their horizontal position. The relation of the pivots of the link to the axis of the rockshaft 39 is such that in the down stroke of the base the cover strips are positioned on the slide plate 39 in advance of the impact of the lips of the folder members 40 against the rearwardly projecting ends of the respective cover strips.

The base of the suction head also affords simple and efficient means for reciprocating the cam bars @911 which are included in the cover strip holding devices hereinbefore referred to. Accordingly the lower ends of the cam bars 490 are supported by the base and their upper portions extend slidably through openings 12 in the table 5 and are seated in vertical guide-ways 13 in the rails 2'! and gibs 28 on the table.

The upper portions of the up-standing cam bars 490 are reduced and provided with oppositely beveled cam surfaces 14 which are slidable through slots if: in the outer ends of the shifter bars 49 therein co-acting with the opposed beveled walls 76 of the slots. The outer ends of the shifter bars are slidable longitudinally in guide openings ET in the respective rails 21 on the table and are positioned with their inner ends slidable or telescopic one upon the other, as seen most clearly in Figs. 3 and 9. On each of the shifter bars 59 are two up-standing studs 18 and 19', one (18) of which extends adjacent the outer wall of one magazine and the other (19) adjacent the inner wall of the other magazine. The overlapping inner end of the upper bar is slotted, as at 80, for the free passage of the stud 79 which rises from the lower bar. Each of the studs of the respective bars 49 supports a toe 48 which is reciprocable through an opening 8| in the lower portion of the adjacent wall of the magazine so as to be projected over or retracted from the proximate edge of the cover strip C after the strip has been imposed on the slide plate 3!] as hereinbefore described. The inner studs 19 of the shifter bars are resiliently connected with the respective rails 21 on the table by means of retracting springs 82 which tend normally to draw such bars together, thus yieldingly. positioning the toes 48 with their inner or acting ends within the respective magazines and directly above the marginal surfaces of the legs of the slide plate 30. (See Fig. 3.)

The construction and relative arrangement of the parts just described are such that after the suction'head in its down stroke has deposited a pair of cover strips C on the slide plate 30 the beveled surfaces 14 of the cam bars 490 move to the bottoms of the opposing beveled walls 16 of the slots 15 of the respective shifter bars 49, as seen in Fig. 9, and continue downward, as seen in Fig. 3. Hence the bars are retracted to their normal inward positions by the action of the springs 82, and the toes 48 are entered in the magazines directly above and in close relation to p the edges of the cover strips on the slide plate 30. In the succeeding ascent of the suction head the beveled surfaces i l of the cam bars 490 impinge against the beveled walls 16 of the slots 15, thus forcing the respective shifter bars outwardly and perforce withdrawing the toes A8 from the respective sides of the magazine against the action of the springs 82. The toes are thus maintained in their outward position until another cover strip 0 is placed upon the slide plate 30 during the next succeeding descent of the suction head, whereupon the cam surfaces of the bars 490 escape the shifter bars and the toes are caused to resume their normal inward or holding positions, as previously mentioned.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular exemplifying form thereof herein disclosed, as the mechanisms may be modified within the principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. The combination with a cover-receiving element, of cover feeding and folding mechanism comprising a cover feeder reciprocative to and from said element, means for positioning a cover strip flatwise on said feeder and with one end of the strip projecting beyond the acting end of the feeder preparatory to the stroke of the feeder toward the cover-receiving element, a folder movable in a path intersecting that of the feeder, which folder when in one position overhangs the path of the feeder and when in another position underlies the latter path, and means for operat ing said strip positioning means, feeder and folder in timed relation, whereby in one movement of the folder the projecting end of the cover strip supported by the feeder is bent at the adjacent end of the feeder by the folder, and whereby in the stroke of the feeder toward the receiving element said feeder co-acts with the folder to flex the bent end of the cover strip toward the opposing face of the feeder, thus delivering the endfol-ded cover to the cover-receiving element.

2. The combination with a cover-receiving element, of a cover feeding and folding mechanism comprising a cover feeder reciprocative to and from said element, means for positioning a cover strip flatwise on said feeder and with one end of the strip projecting beyond the acting end of the feeder preparatory to the stroke of the feeder toward the cover-receiving element, a folder movable in a path intersecting that of the feeder, which folder when in one position overhangs the path of the feeder and when in another position underlies the latter path, strip holders movable over and from the feeder, and means for operating said strip positioning means, feeder, folder and strip holders in timed relation, whereby in one movement of the folder the projecting end of the cover strip supported by the feeder is bent at the adjacent end of the feeder by the folder, and whereby in the stroke of the feeder toward the receiving element said feeder co-acts with the folder to flex the bent end of the cover strip toward the opposing face of the feeder, thus delivering the end-folded cover to the cover-receiving element.

3. The combination with a cover-receiving ele ment, of cover feeding and folding mechanism comprising a cover feeder reciprocative to and from said element, means for positioning a cover strip fiatwise on said feeder and with one end of the strip projecting beyond the acting end of the feeder preparatory to the stroke of the feeder toward the cover-receiving element, an oscillating folder movable in a path intersecting that of the feeder, which folder when in one position overhangs the path of the feeder and when in another position underlies the latter path, and

means for operating said strip positioning means, feeder and folder in timed relation, whereby in one movement of the folder the projecting end of the cover strip supported by the feeder is bent at the adjacent end of the feeder, and whereby in the stroke of the feeder toward the receiving element said feeder co-acts with the folder to flex the bent end of the cover strip toward the opposing face of the feeder, thus delivering the end-folded cover to the cover-receiving element.

4. The combination with a cover-receiving element, of cover feeding and folding mechanism comprising a cover feeder reciprocative to and from said element, means for positioning a cover strip fiatwise on said feeder and with one end of the strip projecting beyond the acting end of the feeder preparatory to the stroke of the feeder toward the cover-receiving element, an oscillatory folder movable in a path intersecting that of the feeder, said folder comprising a body terminating in a depending forward lip which, when the folder is in raised and down positions overhangs and underlies respectively the path of the feeder, and means for operating said strip positioning means, feeder and folder in timed relation, whereby in one movement of the folder the projecting end of the cover strip supported by the feeder is bent at the adjacent end of the feeder, and whereby in the stroke of the feeder toward the receiving element said feeder co-acts with the folder to flex the bent end of the cover strip toward the opposing face of the feeder, thus delivering the end-folded cover to the cover-receiving element.

5. The combination with a cover receiving element, of cover feeding and folding mechanism comprising a cover feeder reciprocative to and from said element, cover strip supply means, a reciprocative suction device for positioning a cover strip fiatwise on said feeder and with one end of the strip projecting beyond the acting end of the feeder preparatory to the stroke of the feeder toward the cover receiving element, a folder movable in the path intersecting that of the feeder, which folder when in one position overhangs the path of the feeder and when in another position underlies the latter path, and means for operating said suction device, feeder and folder in timed relation, whereby in one movement of the folder the projecting end of the cover strip supported by the feeder is bent at the adjacent end of the feeder, andwhereby in the stroke of the feeder toward the receiving element said feeder co-acts with the folder to flex the bent end of the cover strip toward the opposing face of the feeder, thus delivering the end-folded cover to the cover-receiving element.

6. Cover feeding and folding mechanism comprising a horizontally reciprocative feeder for the reception at one limit of its stroke of a cover strip having one end projecting beyond the acting end of the feeder, and a folder movablethrough a vertical path intersecting that of the feeder adjacent the acting end of the feeder when said feeder is in cover receiving position, which folder when in raised and down positions overhangs and underlies respectively the path of the feeder, and means for operating said feeder and folder in timed relation, whereby in the downward movement of the folder the projecting end of a cover strip supported by the feeder is bent at the adjacent end of the feeder, and whereby in the active stroke of the feeder said folder coacts with the feeder to flex the bent end of the cover strip toward the opposing face of the feeder and to maintain such end in folded condition.

'7. Cover feeding and folding mechanism comprising a horizontally reciprocative feeder for the reception at one limit of its stroke of a cover strip having oneend projecting beyond the acting end of the feeder, and an oscillating folder movable through a vertical path intersecting that of the feeder adjacent the acting end of the feeder when said feeder is in cover receiving position, which folder when in raised and down positions overhangs and underlies respectively the path of the feeder, and means for operating said feeder and folder in timed relation, whereby in the downward movement of the folder the projecting end of a cover strip supported by the feeder is bent at the adjacent end of the feeder, and whereby in the active stroke of the feeder said folder co-acts with the feeder to flex the bent end of the cover strip toward the opposing face of the feeder and to maintain such end in folded condition.

8. The combination with a cover-receiving element,'of cover feeding and folding mechanism comprising a cover feeder reciprocative toward and from said element, cover strip supply means, a vertically movable suction head for positioning a cover strip fiatwise on said feeder and with one end of the strip projecting beyond the acting end of the feeder, means for actuating said feeder and suction head in timed relation, a folder movable in a path intersecting that of the feeder, which folder when in raised and down positions overhangs and underlies respectively the path of the feeder, and means connected with the reciprocating suction head for operating said folder in timed relation to the feeder.

9. The combination with a cover receiving element, of cover feeding and folding mechanism comprising a cover feeder reciprocative toward and from said element, cover strip supply means,

a vertically movable suction head for positioning a cover strip flatwise on said feeder and with one end of the strip projecting beyond the acting end of the feeder, means for actuating said feeder and suction head in timed relation, strip holders movable over and from the feeder, a folder movable in a path intersecting that of the feeder, which folder when in raised and down positions overhangs and underlies respectively the path of the feeder, and means connected with the reciprocating suction head for operating said strip holders and folder in timed relation to each other and to the feeder.

10. The combination with a cover receiving element, of cover feeding and folding mechanism comprising a cover feeder reciprocative toward and from said element, cover strip supply means, a vertically movable suction head for positioning a cover strip fiatwise on said feeder and with one end of the strip projecting beyond the acting end of the feeder, strip holders movable over and from the feeder, a folder movable in a path intersecting that of the feeder, which folder when in raised and down positions overhangs and underlies respectively the path of the feeder, an actuating shaft, a cam element thereon, operative connection between said cam element and the suction head, operative connection between the suction head and the folder, and operative connection between said suction head and the strip holders.

11. In a match booking machine having a travelling cover-receiving conveyer, means including a reciprocative member for longitudinally feeding a flexible cover element toward and inserting it in said conveyer, said cover element having a foldable leading end portion, a folder member mounted adjacent and movable transversely through the path of the said end portion so as alternately to overhang and underlie such path, said folder member including an acting portion which in one stroke preparatory to the feeding of the cover element to the conveyer bends the leading end of said element transversely and in the path of said feeder member, and also including a portion which in the inserting movement of the feeder member co-acts therewith to fold the bent cover portion and to guide it in folded condition toward the conveyer, and means for operating said feeder and folder members in timed relation.

12. In a match booking machine having a travelling cover-receiving conveyer, means including a reciprocative member for longitudinally feeding a flexible cover element toward and inserting it in said conveyer, said cover element having a foldable leading end portion, an oscillatory folder member mounted adjacent and movable transversely through the path of the said end portion so as alternately to overhang and underlie such path, said folder member including an acting portion which in one stroke preparatory to the feeding of the cover element to the conveyer bends the leading end of said element transversely and in the path of the said feeding member, and also including a portion which in the inserting movement of the feeder member coacts therewith to fold the bent cover portion and to guide it in folded condition toward the conveyer, and means for operating said feeder and folder members in timed relation.

' JOHN R. NOLAN. 

